Generator



Oct. 2, 1928. 1,686,348

G. F. SCHMIDT GENERATOR Filed Jan. 1,5. 192e MoJ/M riff@ Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

-. uNlreDsrATEs GUsrAvn'r. SCHMIDT, oF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

" y GENERATOR.

yApplication filed January 15; 1926. Serial No. 81,357.

My invention relates to a generator intended for vaporizing and gasifying hydrocarbon fuel and more especially kerosene; the object of theinvention being to provide a generator wherein rapid vaporization land gasification will occur and be maintained during operation of the generator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a generator wherein the fuel is made to travel intermediate of and' in contact with comparatively rapidly hea-ting and at the same time heat retainingV elements; the fuel passage being such that merely a minute quantity of fuel, substantially in the/form of a thin filmv is enabled to travel through the generator whichcomprises an outer metal tube and an inner tube of a hard non-porous'carbon consisting'of aspecifically treated petroleum coke base impervious to the liquid fuel and which 'at' the same` time acts asa catalytic agent during Ipassage of the hydrocarbon .fuel through the generator.

. With my improved generator, the gasification of the liquidv fuel is effected in a passage alternately consisting of walls vof metal and the hard non-porous carbon'and tendency toward carb'oniz'ationis thus entirely eliminated.V l'

. Another object of. my invention is to provide a generator` wherein all vaporized and gasified fuel will be dischargedwhen the supply of liquid fuel or kerosene to the generator is shut off, so that condensationin the generator proper cannot take place andas a result no carbon deposit is formed. l

The objects and advantages of my invention will be fullycomprehende'd from thedetailed description `of the accompanying drawing, wherein f j Y Figure 1` is a perspective view of my improved generatorshown applied to a radiant heater type of burner.

vFigure 2is alongitudinal sectional View of the generator and mixing chamber with a por tion of the burner shown in Figure 1.

Figure y3 is a cross sectionall view of the l generator at any point intermediate ofthe ends.

" For the purposes ofexemplilication,- I have shown my improved generator shown at 15 connected to a burner 16 provided with burnertips 17 having suitable grids 18; one

`end of the burner being shown with a portion of 'a radiant rest 19 and'portions of a pair of radiants 20. l v l The chamber ofthe burner is preferably formed with 'a bottom sloping from both ends towards an intermediate point as shown at 21l in Figure 1 to permitdrain of any condensate that may accumulate; a suitable-pet or'drain cock being shown at 22. v

vThe side ofthe burner 16 is shown provided with a mixing chamber 23, comprising .a con* duit open at bottomv to atmosphere', while the upper end is closed and adj acenttov the end at a point in axial alignment with the discharge of the generator' 15 is pro-vided with a 'short tube 24 which communicates with the connection 25 leading to ,the chamber of the'burner;

the end of tube 24 beingdisposed at a prede`.`

termined distance relativeto the discharge openingfof the generator. The side wall of the mixing chamber; is'shown provided with a connection or nipple 26 having a reduced passage'27 therethrough: the initial end ofthe passage being properly formed to receive the v tapered end 28 of a valve-stem 29; while the discharge end `with.theshoulder 32 of the nipple 26 the port inthe end 31 of the tip 30 is adapted to receive the clean-out needle 33.

With the arrangement just described, it is appa-rent that the discharge end of the gen,-

erator maybe readily cleaned land the tip may be renewed should occasion require. l

lThe initial or large end of the nipple 26 is formedfto receivethe endof the main tube 34 yof the generator 15 thetube 34 like the nipple 26 being of Asuitable heat conducting metal.

' The `opening in the mixing chamber 23 Vis formed so thatv the nipple 26 and the generato'r will be disposed parallel with and in close proximity tothe side of the burner`-16 which y l -is provided with'al suitable number of the 34 of the generator.

The initial end of thegeneratortube 341s provided witha member 36 internallythreadiets 35,'positioned to pla-yon the outertube ed at one end to receive the threaded portion of the valve-stem 29; The passage in the lcoupling 36 `just beyond the inlet port 37 is tapered at 38 to provide a seat for'the enlarged beveled portion 39 of the valve-stem whereby flow of the liquid fuel into .the main Iportion of the 'generator iscontrolledl and'l Ientirely shut olf when said portion 39 is. on its seat.

` 'fllhe'port 3 7 receives theliqui'd fuel or kelO*l sene by means of tube 40 (only al portion of which'is shown) which connects with a suitably supply. i y Y g The outer end of the coupling 36 is externally threaded to receive gland nut 41 through which the valve-stem extends; 'the nut 41 compressing the packing element 42 into oil-tight relationwith the stem.

The generator also comprises a carbon tube 43 of a diameter but slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the `outer metal tube 34, so as to provide a very minute or attenuated passage between the two tubes for passage of the hydrocarbon fuel; in lother words merely a fnetilm of infinitesimal quantity of fuel-can' pass between the two tubes (see Fig. 3). The carbon tube 43 preferably extends throughout thelength of outer tube 34;" and the opening throughthe carbon tube 43 is such that a small or narrow passage intermediate 'of the valve-stem 29 and the inner .wall of the carbon tube 43 forpassage of the lfluid fuel is provided; this passage, like that between the two tubes, being such that a. lm like quantity of fuel can flow therethrough.`

The bore at the initial end of the nipple 2 6 is such that'the resultant gaseous medium vformedintermediate of the two tubes and intermediate of the inner carbon tube and the `valve-stem will be compelled to ow past the tapered end 28 of .thev valve-stem. 29, thence through the needle controlled port and into the mixing chamber; the gaseous stream rbeing injected into thetube 24 and entraine ingair therewith, so that a combustible gaseous mixture is introduced by the short tube 24 into the burner body. 1 y

A s is usual with generators and burners employing hydrocarbon fuel, theinitial heatproper temperature, at which time the valvey 39 is opened gradually; the naturell of the valve permitting such regulation that the proper amountofkerosene entersy the. attenuated passages of the generator portion'of the apparatus* The relation between the fuel f admittingv valve 39 and the vapor or gaseous medium control end of stem29, namely the taperedl end 28 and-needle 33, is `such that the taperedjend 28 will merely control the amount of vapor discharged from thegenerator proper and seating of the end 28` made impossible, as the beveled ,valve portion 39 will completely seat and close off inflow yof hydro-carbon fuel ylrefore the tapered vend 28 lreaches its seat. This relation between the Valves just described yis of great importance in the successful operation of apparatus of the kt pe here in question wherein hydrocarbon` ue1s,'such aslke'rosene, are employed, as discharge of all the generated vapor should 'be permitted after valve 39 is closed, so as to prevent condensationin the generator passages. With my arrangement, a dry generator is at all times maintained when flow thereto is discontinued and as a result formation of carbon in the generator is made impossible, as the admission of the liquid fuel isat the coolest point of the apparatus, namely yinadvance of the generating lchannels or pprtion; the temperature of the latter Vincreasing toward theV discharge end thereof.y This'is not vthe case `with ap aratus as at present ein.

ployed, wherein tie generator is frequently located at a suitable point above the'v burner portion with connections from the generator c extending downward at the side of the burner and therefore beyond the heating zone; with the result that a chill-ing and condensation of the gaseous medium .at least to a certain degree, takes place before it is discharged into the mixing chamber of :the

burner. lVith such constructions, improper combustion is obtained, carbon formation takes place, and unpleasant fodors result. With my improved generator, these-conditions are eliminated anda stream of practically invisible glasf is disc argeddntothexM burner as soon as the apparatus is in proper conditionl and `f iperation and a greatly superior'heat-ing llame is provide f' Porous substancesand soli-d carbon sticks have lbeen' employed in generators yof the, type here in question for the purpseof `liltering ytheliquid fuelor to act as heatiig agents. heuse of a porous element permits formation .of carbon, the very thing not dei sired and which is entirely preventedby my` improved generator. Furthermore, the use of a solid carbonf stick is not feasible because it prevents "the usefof clean-out points-or needles at the discharge t1p of thegenerator and controllable by thevalve-stem and 'which is of great importance becausev the. di `sc'harge tips of the generators `are usually located at a more o r less inaccessible point `where it is impossible to insert. a-fine needlepoint from the outside.l :Duej to acertain 'tendencyof the vapor to carbonize, at theV minute Ydischarge opening` of the tip, it is essential to provide a clean-out point which may be acti;- ated with each operatiolrof the valve-stem to prevent clogging andinsure proper oper-l I provide a hard carbon. tube which notv only permits passage ofthe valve-stern therethrough, but which at the same time will heat more quickly than would a solid stick, .while also retaining heat a suflicientlength oft-ime. The tube 43 of Amy generator is formed of a the accumulation of matter intermediate of Kiel the metallic tube 34 and the carbon tube 43, means areprovided whereby the carbon tube is given rotary movement during each operation ofthe valve-stem 29. I, therefore, show the end of the carbon tube 43 adjacent to the valve housing or coupling 36, with small slots 44'whichreceive theends of a pin 45 disposed ,transversely through the valve-stem 29. It is apparent from this construction that the carbon tube will be rotated within metal tube 34, whenever the valve-stem is turned, coking of the accumulated matter and clogging of the small passage thus prevented. i

With my improved method, the hydrocarbon fuel in controllable quantities enters the generator through the control valve 39 and is admitted into the coolest part of the generator where it fills the minute space or spaces between the two tubes and between the carbon tube or catalytic agent and the valve-stem. The hydrocarbon coming into ycontact with the moderately heated end of the catalytic agent is atomized and distributed in a very thin film and in its further travel lengthwise of the catalytic agent, and therefore over a surface of increasing temperature toward the discharge opening, vaporization and gasilication take place before discharge from the generator, with the result that a pure and invisible gas is discharged into the mixing chamber.

With my improved appara-tus, the generat-or is absolutely dry before any hydrocarbon is admitted; the minute passages in the generator being filled at the initial end will serve to counterbalance any back pressure of the gas created and thus prevents a pulsating action of the flame in the burner.

The exemplification disclosed is well adapted to carry out the method herein set ated crescent shaped passage for the hydrocarbon between the outer tubev and the upper surface of the carbon tube, and a metal rod passing through the carbon tube and of a diameter yslightly less than the internal diam- 'eter of the carbontube'soas to provide an attenuated crescent shaped passage beneath the rod.

2. A generator of the character described, comprising a pair of tubes arranged one within the other, and a stem or rod disposed through the inner tube, the outer diametery of the inn er tube approximating the inner diameter of the'outer tube while the diameter of the stem or rod approximates the innerl diameterof .the inner tube, wherebya pairv of attenuated long passages are provided and the yhydrocarbon fuel caused to flow in the form of a film, a fuel admitting valve at the initial ends ofvsaid passages, and a vapor controlling .v

valve at the discharge ends of the passages.

ture toward the delivery ends, a fuel admiti i ting valve at the initial ends of the tubes, vapor flow controlling means at thel outlet ends of the tubes, and common means whereby the fuel admitting valve and said vapor con-` trolling means are actuated.

4.' A generator of the character described, comprising a metallic tube, a tubular catalytic element of heat conducting material arranged within the metallic tube so as to provide an attenuated passage adapted to receive a film of liquid fuel therebetween, `a fuel control valve at the initial end of the tube, a metallic stem disposedthrough said element, a vapor'con trol valve at the inner end of said stem, and means whereby said tubular element is rotated when said vapor control valve is actuated.

5. A generator of the character described, comprising a member adapted for passage of 3. A'gen'eratorof the character described, y comprising'a pair of tubes' arranged one'withl ,i v

the liduid fuel therethrough,a shut-oft' valve in said member, a mixing chamber open to the atmosphere and having an injecting nozzle in the side wall thereof, a removable tip at the delivery end of the nozzle having a minute port therethrough, a vpair of tubes arranged one within the other and disposed intermediate of the first mentioned Vmember and said nozzle, and a valve-stem disposed through the inner tube, provided kwith a clean-out needle for said port and formed at its inner end to c ontrol flow `of vapor through said nipple and tip.

6. A generator of the character described comprising an outer metallic tube, a tubular catalytic element having an outer kdiameter approximating the inner diameter of the outer tube, a metallic rod disposed through the catalytic element and having anouter diameter approximating the inner diameter of said element, said tube, element and rod being so arranged that thin passages intermediate of the outer tube and catalyticy element and intermediate of the catalytic element and the rod are provided extendingfroni end to end andl of crescent shape, .and a valve at the initial end of said tube whereby flow into said passages is controlled. y

7. A generator 'of the character described comprising an outer tube, a catalytic element arranged lengthwise Within said tube so as to provide an attenuated passage intermedia-te ot one side of said element and the inner wallof said tube,y said element being provided with an attenuated passage therethrough, a common discharge member; at the delivery ends of said passages, and common means for controlling inflow ofl hydrocarbon fuel at the "opposite ends of said passages. p c Y 8: A@ generator of the character described Comprising a metallic tube, a'catalytie element arranged lengthwise within said tube so as t0 provide a thin passage :therebetween extending from end to end,said element also having a passage therethrough, a common discharge member for both passages arranged concen-l tric and 1n alignment with said tube and element, a fue-l control valve yat the initial lends of said passages, and means whereby saidelement may be given movement relative to said tube. l 4 .l

9. A generator of the character described, comprising an outer tube, a non-porous carbon tubehaving an outer diameter 'approximating the inner diameter of the outertube common to both osaid passages, anda coin'- mon discharge nipple, eoncetrie delivery ends of said tubes;

with the 

